Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) G3 Practice Exam

How much air is required to burn 1,000 (28.3 m3) cubic feet of natural gas per hour?

1. 100 ft3 (2.83 m3)

2. 1,000 ft3 (28.3 m3)

3. 10,000 ft3 (283.1 m3)

4. 100,000 ft3 (2831.7 m3)

The correct answer is: 10,000 ft3 (283.1 m3)

To determine how much air is required to burn natural gas, it's important to understand the general stoichiometric requirement for combustion. Natural gas, primarily composed of methane (CH4), requires a certain volume of air for complete combustion. In the combustion process, it is typically estimated that for every unit of natural gas, around 10 units of air are needed. This ratio can vary based on the specific composition of the natural gas and the efficiency of the combustion process, but this general rule provides a good baseline for calculations. Given that 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas is being burned, applying the 10:1 air-to-gas ratio means that 10,000 cubic feet of air would be required for proper combustion. This calculation aligns with combustion requirements and hence validates that the correct answer is indeed the option stating 10,000 cubic feet (283.1 m3). This option accurately reflects the necessary air quantity to fully combust the given volume of natural gas, ensuring efficiency and safety in the combustion process.